BEST REASON TO BRAVE THE HEAT (2013)

We're State Fair addicts. Corn dog junkies. And few of us have the self-control to wait an entire year to ride through that psychedelic haunted house — you know the one. This year those desires were sated at Summer Adventures at Fair Park, a blisteringly hot miniature version of the big fair. Yes, it's helpful to be extremely young at Summer Adventures, since kids view unlimited rides as worth a little heat stroke. Still, there's something really cool about roaming Summer Adventures on a Wednesday afternoon. Maybe it's because there's nobody there, leaving you to feel like you've survived the zombie apocalypse. Perhaps it's the joy of zero lines allowing you front row at every ride, always. Or maybe it's just the slower pace and quality bro-down time with the carnies. Whatever, it worked. And we got properly fair-fried off-season corn dogs out of it, which is what we dream about on any given night.